Had it with the snow and ice? Are you ready to jet away to a warm getaway? Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, is calling your name – as it did mine.
Actually, Baroness Angela Van Wright Von Berger, a classmate of mine at Hampton University, is the one who called me to attend a fundraising gala she held there. The baroness is an advocate for the children of war and poverty in the Middle East and Africa.
It didn’t take a lot to convince me to go. I flew Air Canada from Dulles International Airport outside Washington, D.C., through Toronto. It was a long 12-14 hour flight, but worth it.
Dubai is one of seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Its capital is Abu Dhabi.
Building on a history of human occupation for more than 125,000 years and sitting on the seventh-largest oil and natural gas reserves in the world, the UAE has one of the most diverse economies and populations in the region.
Everything about Dubai is orderly, hospitable and immaculate. The airport, taxis, hotels and public restrooms are all pristine.
Don’t even think about doing anything illegal. The judicial system is based on civil and Sharia law. Offenses can range from alcohol consumption outside of a licensed environment, mostly exclusive hotel restaurants and bars, to offending a person’s honor. Punishment can range from a lashing to stoning to worse. That is why Dubai is one of the safest, most hospitable cities.
Getting around the UAE is as easy as renting a car, hailing a cab or summoning an Uber, which I took to Abu Dhabi to meet a pair of long-time friends who flew in from St. Louis and from Washington. They came to watch Lewis Hamilton, the first and only black driver to race in Formula 1, participate in and win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Hamilton has won five world championships in this popular, international motorsport.
While the official religion of Dubai is Islam and the official language Arabic, the UAE is a global hub with a diverse population connecting Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe. In a recent letter to the editor of The Washington Post, the UAE ambassador to the United States stated, “People of more than 200 nationalities live peacefully in the UAE. There are more than 40 Christian churches, and there are Hindu and Sikh temples. … More than 80 universities in the UAE are challenging and inspiring young people. More than 20 million tourists visited the UAE last year.”
The next day, my friends Fred Sweets and Donald M. Suggs, both of The St. Louis American, and I took the hour-long drive back to Dubai, where we connected with Dianne Dickert of San Francisco and her goddaughter Brandy Stewart of New York to get ready for the gala.
Through the reach of Facebook, Dr. Donna Pratt, another Hampton graduate living in Abu Dhabi, learned of the gathering and joined the fun.
Prince Albert II of Monaco attended the gala to share his interest in climate change and environmental sustainability. Baroness Von Berger introduced the third edition of her book “In The Kitchen With Stars,” featuring the recipes of some of the world’s most renowned chefs.
More than 200 guests attended the book signing to raise funds and awareness for two organizations – the International Humanitarian City’s HELP Our Kids “One Humanity” and The Foundation of Prince Albert II of Monaco’s “Sustainable Energy Program.”
Put Dubai on your bucket list and plan to stay for more than a week to enjoy all the region has to offer. Plan your travel to Dubai for the cooler winter months from November to March, since summers are brutally hot, and restrict outdoor activities to late nights and early mornings.
Plan ahead by visiting https://www.visitdubai.com/en/travel-planning.
